`Felix`
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Posts posted by `Felix`
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Well i don't understant the use of the vbs file...
If an user launchs firefox, its profile will be created automatically in the %username%/application date/mozilla/firefox directory.
If u use a roaming profile, i think there is no need for this file. User's profile (including the app data dir.) is downloaded from server when the user login and uploaded to server at logoff.
And btw if u want a default settings, u can use the defaults/profile/prefs.js.
Am i wrong or
Well the vbs files gives system admins the flexibility to modify and change what happens and customize further. And yes you are right if you have installed with the original installer a new user is prompted, however when we make a custom installation - this isn't the case. Again you are right about the default user profile, but we want to have as many options as possible...
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Great, the new stuff file worked fine and now it made the file. I'll have to test it out soon.
kewl! look forward to your feedback.
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I love FFDeploy. As a matter of fact, I asked Mr. Bob Templeton for the code for his script. Even though I'm making msi's now for my customized installer, I still recommend FFDeploy for those who want the easiest way.
hi totoymola,
Well i would be interested in collaberating with you - i haven't heard back from Bob yet - have you?
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Hey Felix, great idea and tutorial you have here. I can't wait to try it out but I am encountering a problem.
Hi Shak,
Ok thanks for identifying the issues. I have fixed them and updated the ffstuff.exe file. You can just leave the firefox.sfx file in the same folder as your deployment files - if you want to have it in the winrar folder - just make a change to the !makeSFX.bat.
If you have any other issues or questions let me know
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I understand the advantages of a simple install package doing it all for you, but I like my method
Cool! and i also see the benefits of your method - this is just an alternative
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Hello ffdeploy has been around for a long time.
What is the advantage of this method over that of simonsays'
and how would u constrantly upgrade the xpi and themese using this method.
I am very interested to learn something new.
Hi Astalavista,
Personally i think this method is easier, faster and simplier. This is not a replacement for simonsays' guide which is extremely good - but an alternative approach.
The upgrade of the themes is automatic if you set it up that way - firefox will tell the user if there is an update and the update can then be done. As for updating the source install - same system applies - then you would just repeat the process to create your custom installation. - this time it would include the updated extensions and plugins.
I am working on a fully scripted version of this - i will make it available when finished. The fully scripted version will be a single "double mouse click" to run and will then produce the final SFX file ready to include in your Unattended CD.
More information as i am able to put it together. - Thanks for your comments they are appreciated.
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Hi,
I am trying to use the firefox Deployment builder, to build my firefox, but its gives the error: Can't find FTBAB.exe (see screenshot)
Is this a problem? and how to fix it?
EliasXP,
You can download FTBAB.exe from http://www.lss.com.au/lss/windows/ft/ft_ins.htm - simply extract it to your ffdeploy folder and that will fix your problem.
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Hi all!
Well there are a couple of guides here already and whilst they are very good and alot of members have put time in to researching the requirements and producing the guides, personally I have found them to long-winded
. I wanted a very simple and straight forward way of producing 1. an unattended installation that included my selection of extensions and themes;
2. a method that was small and could be downloaded or emailed to someone else; and
3. a single file that could be used to deploy in a corporate environment.
The results of my research and testing has been (i am pleased to say) very fruitful. Below is my method for creating a single file that can be used as a stand alone custom installer for Firefox including extensions and themes, whilst at the same time can be used for a complete unattended installation.
Mozilla Firefox unattended/stand-alone deployment Guide 1.0
required tools:
- Mozilla Firefox
- Firefox extensions you wish to include
- Firefox themes you wish to include
- WinRAR
Contains Bob Templeton's FFDeploy, Custom WinRAR SFX Module for Firefox and Extra scripts by `felix` (This one file contains everything you need)
1. Install a "clean" version of Firefox and configure to suit your requirements.
2. Install any/all your desired extensions and themes and configure.
3. Now we are going to make use of the great work Bob Templeton has done. Run FFDeploy (either the vbs or the exe) and build the deployment source [some images below to help].
FFDeploy.exe (Start screen)
Select your Firefox installation source folder
Once the build process has finished you will be prompted with Your choice here what you want to do.Ok Now you will be asked if you want to build a self installer - click on NO.
Now exit from FFDeploy.
4. Now we have all the source files required including extensions and themes you are going to install. Navigate to your desktop and the Firefox_Deployment folder.
5. Extract the contents of the Simple-FFDeploy.rar file to the Firefox_Deployment folder. Contained in this file is Comment.txt, exclude.lst, firefox.SFX and !makeSFX.cmd. Next edit the contents of the comment.txt file to suit requirements.
Note If you are only going to use the deployment file for unattended installations you can change Silent=0 to Silent=1
6. Now you are ready to create the final deployment file - simply run the !makeSFX.cmd file and this will create mozilla Firefox deployment.exe in the Firefox_Deployment folder for you. It may take a few minutes depending on the size of your source code.
Final product (when launched) will look something like this
The text will vary based on the changes you make to the comment.txt file. Note if you change the "silent=0" to silent=1 - you will not see this screen when you launch mozilla Firefox deployment.exe.-------
Unattended AIO CD deployment methods
1. Add "mozilla Firefox deployment.exe" (or what ever you renamed it) to your RunOnceEx process.
Example: (notice the /s - this is to tell the installer to run quiet/silent mode. If you have set silent=1 in the comment.txt file - you do not need the /s)
REG ADD %KEY%\001 /VE /D "Mozilla Firefox 1.0 Custom" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\001 /V 1 /D ""%systemdrive%installmozilla Firefox deployment.exe /s" " /fOk this takes care of the system wide installation...
As you will be able to see in the comment.txt file - after extraction, CreateProfile.vbs is run to create a firefox profile for the current user (normally the administrator). For each user, this vbs file must be run to create the users firefox profile.
2. Now we need to add the CreateProfile.vbs to the Default Users NTUSER.DAT file so that any new user to the system will have their firefox profile setup when they logon the first time. To do this is simple and you can also include this in your RunOnceEx process.
RunOnceEx Method 1
REG LOAD "HKUCUSTOM" "C:Documents and SettingsDefault UserNTUSER.DAT"
REG ADD HKUCUSTOMSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce /v Create_Firefox_User_Profile /t REG_SZ /d "cscript.exe "%programfiles%Mozilla FirefoxCreateProfile.vbs"" /f
REG UNLOAD "HKUCUSTOM"You could also just create a reg file and use (RunOnceEx Method 2)
REG LOAD "HKUCUSTOM" "C:Documents and SettingsDefault UserNTUSER.DAT"
REGEDIT /S FirefoxCreateUserProfile.reg /f
REG UNLOAD "HKUCUSTOM"FirefoxCreateUserProfile.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_USERSCUSTOMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce]
"Create_Firefox_User_Profile"="cscript.exe "%programfiles%Mozilla FirefoxCreateProfile.vbs""There you have it - thats it! So now you can easily create a custom unattended install of Firefox with themes and extensions and deploy it with all users having a unique firefox profile.
If you have any questions, comment, feedback or suggestions please let me know.
TODO List
- Automate the whole creation (single step) of the source and "mozilla Firefox deployment.exe"
- Produce PDF of this guide (when completed...)
- Work with Bob Templeton in regards to incorporating this all in FFDEPLOY... maybe/possible???
I hope you find this guide helpful.
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totoymola - you may want to put a link to the Unpacked SFX modules for those who wish to modify their resources available from the rarlabs website - Unpacked SFX modules as part of your guide...
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@`Felix`, .sfx file are upx compressed. you'll need the upx tool to expand them, then reshack and compress again.
Thanks Simon - that fixed it!
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Hi TrAvELAr - sorry bout the delayed response.....
Ok here is my present solution (fully tested and working)
[Tested on Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows 2003 - Windows NT users a little bit different naming process]
UserProfileChecker.cmd
@echo off
cls
::If other than WinNT (2000/XP/2003) Environment - bailout.
IF %OS%!==! GOTO _NotNT
setlocal
GOTO _CHECKS
:_CHECKS
::Get current user SID.
FOR /F "tokens=7" %%A IN ('getsid \\%computername% %username% \\%computername% %username%') DO SET USERSID=%%A
::Get current user Profile Path.
FOR /F "tokens=2* delims=\" %%A IN ('reg query "hklm\software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion\profilelist\%USERSID%" /v ProfileImagePath') DO SET PIP=%%B
::If the current username and the current user profile path match - bailout!
IF "%USERNAME%"=="%PIP%" goto _eof
::Set Directory to be removed next logon...
FOR /F "tokens=2*" %%A IN ('reg query "hklm\software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion\profilelist\%USERSID%" /v ProfileImagePath') DO SET ToRemove="%%B"
::Get the system profiles path - normally %systemdrive%\documents and settings\
::Or D:\documents and settings\
FOR /F "tokens=2*" %%A IN ('reg query "hklm\software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion\profilelist" /v ProfilesDirectory') DO set USERDIR=%%B
::Check the system profiles path for a directory name that matches the username
echo %USERDIR% | DIR /AH /B "%USERDIR%\%username%\NTUSER.DAT" | find /c /i "NTUSER.DAT" >NUL
::If no match - bailout!
if errorlevel 1 goto _eof
IF NOT "%USERNAME%"=="%PIP%" GOTO _ModifyUserImagePath
:_ModifyUserImagePath
call :_splash
::Let the user know something is happening...
popup /YN /HF "userprofilechecker.hlp" /IE /M "Duplicate User Profile Detected" /T "User Profile Checker 1.0"
if errorlevel 7 goto _eof
::if use says yes - then update the users SID Profile Image path to original value...
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\%USERSID%" /v ProfileImagePath /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%userdir%\%username%" /f >NUL
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths" /v %USERNAME% /d "%userdir%\%username%\My Documents" /f >NUL
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce" /v RemoveDuplicateProfile /d "%comspec% /C RMDIR /S /Q ""%ToRemove%""" /f >NUL
rem shutdown -l -f
goto _eof
:_NotNT
cls
echo ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
echo This program is designed for Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003
echo and above.
echo ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
echo.
goto _eof
:_ERROR
cls
echo ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
echo You have cancelled this update, as a result your profile will not be updated.
echo ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
echo.
goto _eof
:_Splash
echo ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
echo User Profile Checker v1.0
echo Copyright 2004-2005 Darren Blackley, Simplify I.T. All rights reserved.
echo ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
:_EOFRequired 3rd party utilities for the batch to work.
REG.EXE - Windows Resource Kit
GETSID.EXE - Windows Resource Kit
SHUTDOWN.EXE - Windows Resource Kit
POPUP.EXE - Just a windows message popup for notifying the user. (Attached)
UserProfileChecker.hlp
********** A DUPLICATE OF YOUR USER PROFILE HAS BEEN DETECTED. **********
This situation can happen when your computer has been restored from a disaster/
System crash, an operating system upgrade, a service patch/hotfix or your user
Account has been erroneously deleted from the computer.
Your original user profile including your files should all be available under your
original profile directory. Presently you are operating on a default (new)
profile that Windows as created for you because it has found a duplicate directory.
To restore your original profile and regain access to all of your original user
configuration including My Documents etc. - Click on YES.
Note: Once you click yes, your profile will be automatically corrected and you will
be automatically logged off. Simply Login again to gain access to your original
profile.
If you do not wish to restore profile or require more information click NO and
contact your local IT support staff member.
For more specific information visit this reference on the Microsoft website:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314045Next step is to build it all into a single exe or com so that no third party utils are required, however i am going to have to go away and learn some delphi or something to do that... any programmers like to give it a try?
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@dankbud42o
Do you know if there is an update .msp file to upgrade from 9.01.1100? If so, send me a PM please.
Let everyone know the details
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Hi there all,
Am having a little problem that i hope you may be able to help me with.
After following the steps i can't see an icon even when i change the whatever.sfx to whatever.exe... if i open the updated whatever.sfx file again in reshack and try to view the icon group i get the following error message:
this file has a non-standard resource layout...
it probably has been compressed with and "EXE Compressor"
I have not yet compressed the files.
Anyone got any ideas? I am using version 3.4.0.79 of reshack
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Here is the method I have been using for years if it helps anyone
REG LOAD "HKU\CUSTOM" "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\NTUSER.DAT"
regedit /s DefaultUser.reg
REG UNLOAD "HKU\CUSTOM"
REG LOAD "HKU\CUSTOM" "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\NTUSER.DAT"
regedit /s AllUsers.reg
REG UNLOAD "HKU\CUSTOM"Or you can automate it in your runonceex.cmd script:
REG ADD %KEY%\081 /VE /D "Configuring the Default/All User Settings" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\081 /V 1 /D "REG LOAD \"HKU\CUSTOM\" \"C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\NTUSER.DAT\"" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\081 /V 2 /D "REGEDIT /S %systemdrive%\install\DefaultUser.reg" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\081 /V 3 /D "REG UNLOAD \"HKU\CUSTOM\"" /fYou could also substitue the "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User" %allusersprofile% if you want to use say drive d: for the user profiles...
There are many ways of doing it...
Hope you find this helpful
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Don't forget guy's - there is Norton Ghost (IMHO - Crap) and Symantec Ghost (IMHO Great - i use daily and have done for for years).
Symantec brand products for consumer and corporate - Norton = Consumer, Symantec = Corporate.
Personally i have found many problems with the consumer products from Symantec, but the corporate products are very good.
Just my phonecard's worth
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Very sorry all if this caused a problem... just tried to help.
I know you tried to help but if you gonna attach a file better make sure it works 100% or else mention it that it still has some flaws
Your 100% correct... again sorry for the problems.
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This one really works, stating the message:
Have you backed up your software? Press any key to boot from CD.
no errors like in `Felix` version when the . . . appears
Hex Edited from the dutch XP version wich has a longer message
Very sorry all if this caused a problem... just tried to help.
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dude one thing ive learned in partitioning is never delete the c: partition becuse sometimes the d: partion will take c: and it will stuff it up so just reformat the c: partition
Agreed - but you only delete the contents of drive C: not the parition.
As long as the partition is intact all will be fine. 0 -
Recently I have been getting fed up of fixing my friends computers.
I was thinking of creating a unattended install that uses one disk with two partitions.
Partition 1 – windows xp
Partition 2 – Documents and settings
So when a problem arose they could pop in the unattended CD and it would install the operating system back to Partition 1 and pick up all the documents and settings from partition 2.
Has anyone got any real experience with this and can help me out with something’s to watch out for ?
Hail hail
Hi blinkdt,
Yes your idea works well and this is how i set up corporate systems - it makes it easy to back up, update the system, or recover from distasters...
The thing to be away of this that when you reinstall or restore your system - if the backup doesn't include the user profile [such as a fresh install] you will end up with the user profile being created from scatch. eg.
before reinstall
d:\documents and settings\user1
after reinstall
d:\documents and settings\user1
d:\documents and settings\user1.computername
For each time you reinstall you will add to this problem ... see HOW TO: Restore a User Profile in Windows - This talks about Windows 2000 but it is the same with Windows NT 4, 2000, XP and 2003.
The solution is to do the manual fix as outline in the KB Doc above or automate the fix. I have been searching for years for a solution to this problem and finally have written one myself. Currently this is in a batch file format but i will be writing it into a stand alone app file in the next week or so... So then you can add this to your unattended installs and this will resolve the "duplicate profile" issue
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Ahhh... I see now. I was assuming that the user base was already populated. Let me do some investigating for you today.
Hi TrAvELAr,
Thankyou for taking the time to investigate and help me out - i would be interested in reading what you find out....
In the meantime i have managed to write a batch file to check this and correct the issue automatically - I am in the process now of looking to programing it into a single com or exe file as there are some other utils like getsid and reg that are currently used with the batch file that i believe i can do away with in a single application file.
I will post the results when i have finished
Look forward to reading your next message. 0 -
Hi all,
For those of you that have Gmail and want to include Gmail Notifier 1.0 in your unattended installations...
GmailInstaller.exe /S (please note the CAPITAL S) You can alse set the drive path by using /D=[path to install]
More information MSFN's Unattended XP CD - Nullsoft SuperPiMP Install System (NSIS)
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Here you go "Have you backed up your software?"
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When you sysprep it, did you tell it to generate a new sid (only required if the restore is going to another machine)? If you are generating a new sid, that would cause this problem.
-nosidgen - Runs the Sysprep.exe file without generating new SIDs. You must use this parameter if you are not duplicating the computer where you are running the Sysprep.exe file or if you are preinstalling domain controllers.
Good point and yes i have tried both. The problem arrises because the restore is from a default clean image and so it doesn't know about the users that have logged on since the build... therefore when the machine is restored the accounts as far as the USER Accounts are missing... so basically i need to be able to backup the sam and security configurations and then restore those... something you may be interested in is this information - this basically is what is happening.
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Even though I'm making msi's now for my customized installer, I still recommend FFDeploy for those who want the 
. I wanted a very simple and straight forward way of producing 
Once the build process has finished you will be prompted with
Your choice here what you want to do.
Test your RunOnceEx configuration the simple way
in Unattended Windows 2000/XP/2003
Posted
Hi all,
I personally like to test my RunOnceEx configurations and i wanted a simple way to do it. Now i know there is a command line to call the dll in question, so simply i have created this little exe file to do just that and it will work from anywhere. Simply run this command and siliently it will launch the RunOnceEx process. I have found it valuable and i hope you do too.
RunOnceEx_test.zip